Microsoft launches its first selfie phone with Lumia branding

Microsoft today announced the new Lumia series smartphone – Microsoft Lumia 535. Introduced in single SIM and dual SIM configurations, the Lumia 535 runs Windows Phone 8.1 wrapped inside the Lumia Denim update which also bundles exclusive Nokia apps such as Music, Camera, HERE, DRIVE+, and others.

Microsoft will introduce the Lumia 535 in China, Bangladesh and other countries later this month. The Lumia 535 costs 110 Euros (US$137) before taxes and subsidies.

After Microsoft acquired the Nokia Devices Division last year, the Lumia 535 is officially the first Lumia series smartphone to arrive with Microsoft Lumia branding. May we have two minutes of silence for Nokia.

Here are the Lumia 535’s specifications:

• 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with 960×540 resolution
• Quad-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor
• 1 GB RAM, 8 GB built-in and 128 GB micro SD support
• Windows Phone 8.1 with Denim update
• 5MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
• 3G, 2G, dual SIM
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS with A GPS
• 1,905 mAh battery
• 140.2mm x 72.4mm x 8.8mm
• 146grams

While the new mid-range device plays the trumpet of being a selfie-friendly phone, the irony lies in the fact that the Instagram app for Windows Phone is still in beta.
Voice-based personal assistant Cortana is also available for China, supporting Mandarin speech and text.

According to a Strategy Analytics report, Microsoft holds the third largest pie with Windows Phone after Android and iOS in the global smartphone market. However, the Windows Phone continues to struggle since its share in the Chinese market fell from 4 percent in Q3 2013 to 3 percent in Q3 2014. Clearly, a tough challenge awaits the Microsoft Lumia devices.